Switch pull mechanism



Dec. 4, 1951 R. PoPP SWITCH PULL MECHANISM Filed Nov. 2, 1946 Ary INVENTOR. Y RUDOLF POPP BY j 9 i Patented Dec. 4, 1951 UNITEDv STATES PATENT GFFICE SWITCH PULL MECHANISM Rudolf Popp, Valparaiso, Ind., assignor to McGill Manufacturing Company, Inc., Valparaiso, Ind.,

a corporation of Indiana Application November 2, 1946, Serial No. 707,413

This invention relates to a switch mechanism and more particularly to a connector device for actuating a switch mechanism of the type in which a reciprocating motion is converted to rotary motion through the operation of a universal connection. Specifically, the present invention is an improvement on my prior Patents 1,974,054 and 2,378,655, both assigned to the same assignee as the present application.

Electric switches and switch mechanisms of the type disclosed in the above-mentioned patents are manufactured on a mass production basis. It will be apparent, therefore, that a substantial saving in manufacuring costs is accomplished whenever steps in the manufacturing process are eliminated. This is especially true if the steps eliminated involve complicated processes such as soldering processes, molding and forming operations, drilling, tapping and threading operations and the like. rIn such switch mechanisms, it is desirable that the parts thereof are so constructed as to provide very eicient operation, exibility for mounting the mechanism in various xtures `with which they are usually associated, together with' `the reduced manufacturing cost referred to above by eliminating the requirement of costly parts.

Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved switch mechanism.

It is another object of the present invention to 'provide a switch mechanism with simple parts involving inexpensive manufacturing operations, which mechanism includes the desirablefeatures iof greater ease of assembly and more satisfactory operation. Y Y Y `It is still another object of thepresent invention to provide a universal connection which is "comprised of very few parts having liberal manufacturing tolerances'adapted'to be positively assembled together with a minimum number `of assembly operations. Y

It is'a'further object of the present invention to provide a new and improved switch mechanism jin which costly assembly operations Vare completely eliminated and yet where the resultant "switch mechanism'is even more satisfactory in `operation and efficiency than similar prior `art devices. l

It isa feature of the present invention to pro- "vide a universal connection in which a simple punching is employed to connect the reciprocating actuating member of the switch with a suit- 'able beaded chain in a positive'and foolproof mranner. .7. Y Y n 2 Claims. (Cl. 74-501) It is another feature of the present invention to provide a new and improved switch mechanism in which expensive soldering operations are completely eliminated by employing an improved U- shaped frame and nipple arrangement associated with the universal connection having numerous advantages from the standpoint of mounting, operation, and the like. y

Further objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent as the following description proceeds and the features of novelty which characterize this invention will be pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this specification.

For a better understanding of the present invention, reference may be had to the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective View of a switch mechanism embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switchmechanism when mounted in a suitable housing, with the cover of the housing and an insulating plate of the switch removed to clarify the showing, the universal connection being illustrated in a switch actuating position;

Fig. 3 is a side view of the U-shaped frame employed in connection with the universal connection;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the threaded nipple employed with the U-shaped frame of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is an assembled view of the U-shaped frame and nipple shown in Figs. 3 and 4 of the drawing;

Fig. 6 is a longitudinal sectional View of the U- shaped frame and nipple oi Fig. 5;

Fig. 'I is a perspective View of a stamping employed in the present invention to connect the reciprocating switch actuating member with the actuating chain;

Fig. 8 is a longitudinal sectional view through the universal connection o the switch of the present invention showing the relationship of the stamping of Fig. 7 to the reciprocating, actuating member and the chain;

Fig. 9 is an enlarged sectional view of a portion of Fig. 6, taken substantially on the line 9-9 in Fig. l2, showing assembly details of the U-shaped frame and associated nipple;

Fig. 10 is a sectional view taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. e;

Fig. 1l is an end view of the U-shaped frame of Fig. 3, looking from the left in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 12 is a transverse section on the line I2-I2 in Fig. 5, looking in the direction of the arrows` Referring now more particularly to the drawing, there is illustrated in Fig. 1 a switch mechanism II which is adapted to be mounted in a suitable housing, a portion of which is indicated at I2 in Fig. 2 which usually comprises a metal casing having an insulating liner or the like. The entire switch mechanism II, including the casing I2, is adapted to be mounted in a suitable housing such as I3, a portion of which is shown in Fig. 2 of the drawing, in a manner .which will be described in greater detail hereinafter. The housing I3 does not form a part ofthefswitch mechanism but may forma partof .a lamp or other electrical device with Vwhich the` switch/is to be associated. As illustrated in the drawing,

the switch mechanism Il comprises a pair of insulating plates or frame `members I`tl-`ardI5- 'Ihese plates are formed of any suitable insulating material but preferably one from which they may be stamped out of sheet material or the like. Theplates h. and-lli are spaced apart and held in-position by a pair of conducting posts IE and Il -which have portions VI8 extending through the plates Iliand I which portions are upset or deformed at their extreme ends to effectively clamp the plates together and hold them in the position shown best in Fig. l of the drawing.

.Attention nowis directed particularly to Figs.

.3, 4, `5, 6, 9, .11 and 12 of the drawing. In order 'further to rigidly relate the insulating plates Iii land vI5 and to support the universal connection of the present invention, there is provided a U- shaped or bifurcated frame member Iii which is supported between the plates It and I5 and which also has projectionsfl extending through these plates to hold the U-shaped member I9 in position. The manner in which the projections 2@ are received in the. plates Il@ and I5 is indicated in Figs. 3 and 6. These projections T2@ may also be upset or otherwise deformed to insure 'that .i .the `U-shaped member is held between the plates .I4 and I5. .Attached to U-shaped member "I9 in an integral manner which will be described in greater detail hereinafter is a threaded nipple 2| upon which a lever generally indicated at22, Figs. 1, 2 and 8, is adapted Vto rock'whentension is applied to a Flexible chain 23. (The lever 22 is connected vin .accordance with the present .in-

vention as will be brought out Yhereinafter to av :stemor Yreciprocating member 2d by a universal .connection whereby the rocking of the lever 22 in any direction will pull the stem or reciprocating lever *.24 to the rightas viewed inFig. '2 of the drawing through an opening. Stem `2l is pro- .,vided with a head 25 and vcarries a U-shaped pawl 21S having parallel arms .and'28. Surrounding :stem 2d: is a helical spring 2S which in accordance with one feature of the present invention is positioned within a recess 3i! in the nipple 2I, while the other end of the spring rests against the pawl 126 normally holding the pawl and stem in the Vextended position shown by dotted lines in Fig.

2 of the drawing. rIhe pawl 2S. may be provided with a kcollar portion adjacent the point where `thespring 2S engages the Vsame for the purpose of centering the spring, the other end of the spring being centered by the recess in the i nipple :2L

As is clearly b'rought out in my prior Patent 11,974,054 referred to above, there is rotatably indicated at 32, Fig. 2, having integraltrunnions or stub shafts journalled in appertures .in the plates I4 and i5. The bridging contact member 28 of the pawl 26 straddle the ratchet gear 35 and the arm 21 is provided with a lateral projection"=`2`IA which engages behind the teeth of the ratchet wheel .35 vtor-rotate the same upon reciprocal movementofthe pawl 2t.

l-Also ,in accordance with my prior Patent 1,974,054, each of the posts I6 and Il mechanicallysupports -andI-is Velectrically connected to a .stationary contact member 38 formed of resilient material. These contact members 38 are sobent as is clearly indicated in Fig. 2.of

V.the drawingas to have inwardly curved'contacting portions lying .opposite each other 'for engaging the movable contact bridging member and of a substantially straight portion which is reebent upc-n itself to give additional resiliency. At the end of the re-bent portions the members are bent at a right angle and theright angled portion secured to `the posts It and Il in any suitable manner. VVWhenthe stationary contact members .'38 pass from thedeep-cut insulating teeth of the bridging member "Edito theshallow contact carrying teeth, 'the drop is small .and the tension of the springsis Vonly slightlyV released, thus preventing reboundof the stationary contact members when they strike the contact bearingteeth'. At .one yposition 'of the movable contact member both of thestationary contact members will Vrest upon and be bridged-byteeth having a Yconducting face in which position posts It` and Il will be electrically interconnected. -Preferably each of the posts'I' and II carries a screw 40 by means of which conductors may bev connected'thereto so the switch may Vbe associated with ran electrical circuit which it is adapted to control. The particular construction of the stationary and movable contacts and the Vpawl for actuating the samefforms no part of the presentinvention andis Vdisclosed. and Vdescribed only 'to aid in better vunderstanding the .operation and arrangement of the'features of .the present invention relating to the universal connection and the support therefor.

.One feature .of the present inventionY is pri- `mariiy concerned with tne U-shaped member I9 and the nipple 2|, together with the means for un1ting .these members into a. unitary structure.

.In .arrangements .employed yheretofore similar addition, the nipple 2| includes a sleeve or cylindrical extension ZIA. which is adapted to be inserted into an opening ISA in the base or bight ISB ofthe U-shaped member I9. By means of a swedging or clinching step, the sleeve-like extension 2IA is deformed into arcuate lips as is eieariyishown at A2li-3` Virfrigs. .v9 and 12 or the, drawing tointegrally unite the nipple'2l and the L17-shaped member ldwithoutftheuse of solder oranyother means'. `Diametric`ally opposite portions C of the' sleeve 2|A (shown in Figs. 5, 6 and 12)- are Avforced intov pockets or recesses |90 which extend from the opening I 9A into the legs. ofthe bifurcated frame member i9. InV this way thef nipple 2| andV frame member I9 are prevented from twisting relative to each other. The over-all lengthof the integrally united U-shaped member I9 and the nipple 2| as shown in Fig. 5 of the` drawing is considerably less than or in event no greater than in prior arrangements by virtue of the fact' that the nipple 2| is recessed for the spring asshown at Consequently, even through am'uch longer threaded portion is provided on the nipple 2| than'- in prior arrangements, the switch embodying this arrangement is just as compact if not more so;

In accordance with the present invention, the diameter of the nipple 2| is substantially greater than that'emplo'yed heretofore whereby the contour of the end upon'whichthe lever 22 sets may be formedfor most satisfactory operation. As is best'shown in Fig. 6 of the drawing, a circumferential groove 43 is provided which has a substantial 'depth and which has Athe outer wall thereof formed parallel to the axis of the nipple 2| while the'inner 'wall `of` the circumferential z Figs. v2 and -8 'of the drawing is provided; The

end 22A of theV lever 22 rests on the shoulder defined by the outer wall of the groove 43 while the 45 degree rise at the inner wall of the groove 43 indicated at 43A in Fig. 8 of the drawing insures the longest possible reciprocating movement of the stem or reciprocating lever 24 and consequently, the maximum movement of the pawl 26. It has been found that with the present arrangement, the movement of the pawl is increased by 11g of an inch, thereby permitting much greater tolerances in the dimensions of the parts. The greater depth of the circumferential groove 43 prevents the lever 22 from slipping olf the nipple 2| when being tilted as in Fig. 2 of the drawing. In prior art arrangements, if the construction was not exactly correct and usually a gauge was required to insure the proper arrangement of parts, there was slipping or rolling of the lower or pivoting edge of the lever 22. This is completely eliminated by the present arrangement.

As was pointed out above, the longer threaded portion on the nipple 2| permits the use of two separate nuts such as 4| and 42. It will be obvious from an examination of Fig. 2 of the drawing that the nut 4| prevents the mechanism of the switch from being pulled out of the housing since it engages the inside of the housing I3 and in fact, it prevents any force from being applied to the switch mechanism except through the pawl 26. The nuts 4| and 42 are very simple in construction and relatively inexpensive in contrast with the single nut employed in prior art devices which was usually required to have a countersunk portion to accommodate the frame member associated with the nipple which nipple in the prior art arrangements had avery short thread.

In accordance with a further feature of the present invention, there is provided a connector "a simple stamping.,which is veryinexpensive to manufacture andfisfmuch less complicated than the devicesemployd 'for this purpose heretofore which usually comprised aA4 stamping which re` quired several shaping or forming' operations. As illustrated,A theconnector 45 includes a hook 4l at one end thereof forV engaging the reciproeating member or stem 24 as is clearly shown in Fig. '8' of the drawing. The other end of the connector 45 is provided with an opening 48 of circularV shape of a diametersuinciently large to just encircle one bead orv ball of a beaded chain 23 in the manner indicated in Fig. 8 of the drawing. The opening 48is provided with a slot 49 through which the connecting portion of the beaded chain extends butwhichvslot is vsufficiently small to prevent the bead itselfl from passing therethrough; Atthe edges of the connector 45 intermediate the hook 41 andthe circular opening 43 are provided apa-ir of notches 50`which receive the embossed or dented-in portions 5| of the lever 22 (Figs. 8 and 10) It will be understood that the lever 22 might be provided with tapped openings for set screws which wouldvengage the slots 5B in the connector v45. However, from' the standpoint of ease of assembly and manufacturing cost, the embossed portions 5| are preferred. 'Since the connectorV 45i`hasj a substantial thickness, the swedg'in'g or indentation of the lever 22 at points 5| provides a sort of flat surface indicated at 52 in Fig; 10Y of the drawing thereby preventing twisting of the connector 45 relative to the lever 22 which 'is verydesirable. y

"An examination of Fig. 8 of the drawing indicates clearly that the bead on the beaded chain 23 disposed in the opening 43 is firmly held therein by the shoulders adjacent the aperture 49. In addition, a considerable saving in beaded chain is provided by the present arrangement since in the prior art arrangements usually a series of beads such as three or more were required to make the connection which in the present arrangement requires a single bead.

When one considers the manufacture of these switches by the hundreds of thousands this amounts to a considerable saving.

The contour of the lever 22 is such as to readily provide for the proper seating of an extension arm of the type such as disclosed in Klous Patent No. 1,670,453 granted May 22, 1928.

In View of the detailed discussion included above, the operation of the switch mechanism embodying the present mechanism will be apparent and no further discussion thereof will be included herein. It will be seen that there has been provided a switch mechanism which is considerably less expensive to manufacture since it eliminates certain expensive steps employed in the manufacture of similar mechanisms heretofore. Furthermore, the mechanism is constructed so as to provide efficient operation thereof further characterized by the fact that it is arranged for great flexibility from the standpoint of mountingA in various wall xtures and the like.

While there has been described a particular embodiment of the present invention, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the present invention, and it is aimed in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.

Iciaim An electric svcritch 11u11`trhainV 'unit-adapted,

for universal-seated movementj-andhaving"therein 2in-actuating' member Withfa looped `connecting portion andfaf'exibl',chairrotjb'eadsi' the combination incruding a VconnectormemberA for connecting said .actuating member, and s'aidchain comprisinga at metal 'punching havingatpne end a "body `portion Wthan elongated" recess therein andu an openingzatth'e'insdeend ofthe recess to provide a hookelikeconiigurationin said body, portion to permit'the'insertionofthelooped connectng'portion ofithefactuating member in the opening to the recessin'a hookingeassembiy operation Avand provide aghoolzedk connection be'-V tween the actuating member'andthe connector member, and said. flat punching; having'a "body portonzatthe other end thereof, adapteditoreceivetherein a beadfrom the chain,'and,sa`d .unit also includingza tubular lever housing havingV an internal' cavity shaped lto receive thegreatenportion of the connector member therein,V surround- Ying said connector member', and,.having .an.in dented vportion therein Iockingiy engaging the connector member .Within the housing.`

2. An electric vvswitch pull chain unit adapted for universal-seated movement. and Shaving therein an actuating member Withl al loopedA connectingportion and a .exib1e chain of beads,V the combination including ^a connector member for connecting said actuating membenand saidchain comprising afiiatmundhing havingatoneend a. body portion Witha deepT recess thereinandgan opening at the inside endntherecesseto provide4 ahook-lkeconfiguration ,that ,said body portion to permit `theinserticm of .theA actuating member in the 'opening in a yhockingassembly operation, said-fiat-punchinghavingc at the-other endo; bodyjfportion Withan aperture therein-for receiving and carrying"therein-al bead in the chain, fand' "saidr'fiat' punchingrhaving two oppositeiy A disposed 'indented' edge vportionsv intermediateY the twobodyportions, "and said unit aIso; includinga tubular lever housing surround` ing 'said' connector YmemberV andi having indented portions therein' lockingly engaging the connector member Within the .housing at" the' indented edge portions'thereof. Y

RUDOLFVV POPP.

` Amerlin-EhioEs CITED UNITED STATES s PATENTS Number Name Date `'393,334 Judd Nom-"29', 1888 1,064,425 'Barr VJune 10,1913 1,483,162 "'Despar'd Felo.l 12, 1924 134881773' Gordon `Felo.1 12`,` 1924 1,652,112 'Gagnon Dec."6,"1927 Y1,662,665 G'agnon Mar. 13, 1928 11664290 n,Gagnon Mar.y 271928 117712125 Kahle J11'1y,22','11930 V"1,81%,116 "Lindsay Dec.8', V1931 1,904,927 'Popp .`Apr.118,1933 42,005,087 .Kamack .'.Iune ,18, '1935 2,248,154 `,Young July8', '1941 `2,378,655 Popp, `VJune, 19, 1945 y2,4411319 Potter. f.. May ,18, 1948 

